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arabidoll · 3 months

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The image the west painted about arabs and SWANA ppl centuries ago, how is it still used today, and why is that image harmful to SWANA group

First of all, what is Orientalism? based on the definition by Edward Said, orientalism is a "created body of theory and practice" which constructs images of the Orient or the East directed toward those in the West.

Representations of the East as exotic, feminine, weak and vulnerable reflect and define how the West views itself as rational, masculine and powerful. These can be seen in paintings as well as media.

The painting were obsessed w the idea of the Harem women, which affected all SWANA ppl, including Persian and Turkish women as well. Stereotypes and orientalist depictions of arabs and SWANA ppl are still used till this day.

Le Corsaire (1856), takes place in Turkey and focuses on a love story between a pirate and a beautiful slave girl. Scenes include a bazaar where women are sold to men as slaves, and the Pasha's Palace, which features his harem of wives.

Petipa's The Pharaoh's Daughter (1862), an Englishman imagines himself, in an opium-induced dream, as an Egyptian boy who wins the love of the Pharaoh's daughter, Aspicia. Her costume consisted of 'Egyptian' décor on a tutu.

Fatima (1897) and Fatima’s Dance (1907), which were the very first portrayals of Arab woman as a veiled belly dancer. These sexualized and objectified Arab women.

Sheherazade (1910), involves a shah's wife and her relations with a Golden Slave. It includes an orgy in an oriental harem. When the shah discovers the actions of his numerous wives and their lovers, he orders the deaths of those involved. Also based on One Thousand & One Nights.

The sheik (1921), takes place in Algeria, where Lady Diana disguise herself as a dancing girl to become one of the prospective brides, yet is unable to go through with the deception bc the sheik liked her. the sheik later abducts her, intending to make her fall in love with him.

The movie didnt even have the accurate Algerian traditional clothing and Algerians dancing clothes arent the “belly dancing inspired” clothes. The stereotype that a SWANA man would abduct a white women to make her fall inlove w him too…

Lalla Fatma N'Soumer, an Algerian anti-colonial leader during 1849–1857 of the French conquest of Algeria and subsequent Pacification of Algeria. She is an Algerian national hero. The pictures show the Algerian traditional wear, which isnt close to the ones in the movie.

Here is an Algerian woman wearing a Haik, again not dressed as the movie shows.

Mickey in Arabia (1932) by Disney, taking place in the Arabian Desert, where Mickey and Minnie are exploring the area I assume. Later, Minnie gets kidnapped by a Sultan. Again, portraying men from SWANA or arab men in this case as predatory and barbaric.

Abdullah the Great aka. Abdullah’s Harem (1955), about an Arab sheikh and a European model. He’s always with the Arab women he bought, along with belly dancers. He still tries to seduce Ronnie. He then attempts to drug her in order to sleep with her, but fails and gets dethroned.

So far all these movies continue to have the same narrative, continue to sexualize Arab and SWANA women, always portraying them as belly dancers and/or harem women. The Arab and SWANA men as barbaric and predatory. Themes that will continue to exist till this day.

Babes in Baghdad (1952) Arabian Nights princess goes on strike demanding equal rights for women, to the frustration of the caliph. Aided by the caliph's godson, she enables the caliph to see the error of his polygamous ways, and he eventually settles down with his wife.

The Queen of Babylon (1954), about a king's concubine that loves a Chaldean rebel in ninth-century B.C. Assyria. I Am Semiramis (1963), in ninth-century B.C. Assyrian Queen Semiramis loves an enslaved Dardanian king. mind u assyrians dont dress like egyptians

Fast forward to the 90s and early 2000s, the same stereotype surrounding SWANA ppl persisted Aladdin(1992), Aladdin meets Princess Jasmine, daughter of the sultan of Agrabah. They both have to deal with evil sorcerer Jafar from overthrowing Jasmine's kingdom.

Jasmine was sexualized (even tho shes a minor), she seduces Jaffar, and was put in a harem/belly dancer fit. the same portrayal of Arab women. The movie also features harem women. Jaffar w big nose, painting arab men as ugly, sinister and ruled by sexual desires, again.

Braceface (2002), the harem thing again. Totally spice (2002) with harem inspired fits Around the World in Eighty Days (2004) by Disney, Arab sheikh his wives that were objectified through the scenes.

After 9/11, “Arabs are terrorists” and xenophobic remakes towards arabs increased. Air Marshal (2003), The stone merchant (2006), The kingdom (2007), and many more all portrayed arabs as terrorists. Family guy(?) and shameless (2012, S2) with jokes about k!lling iraqis

Bratz: Desert Jewelz (2012) and Aladdin (2019) had the same orientalist themes as the 1001 Arabian nights (1959) and as well as the older movies.

Today, inaccurate and offensive Arab/SWANA representation is still the same. Arabs are either rich sheikhs, terrorists, or exotic belly dancers. not only that, u rarely see any arab or SWANA actor/actress get good roles, its always reduced to the terrorists role.

Whats mentioned in the thread isnt only harmful to how SWANA ppl are viewed, but how they’re treated as well. In 2002 to 2005, Philippe Servaty engaged in sex with over 80 Moroccan women, promising to take them to Belgium.

He asked them for sexual photos and photographed them in poses that could be seen as degrading. They included ejaculating on the face of a veiled woman and having another woman kneel, bound, and gagged while he urinated on her. After returning to Belgium, he published the photos.

with assyrians and persians ppl still use the same harem belly dancer clothing and its not even accurate. egyptians are always portrayed as belly dancers, also inaccurate.

SWANA ppl are still treated as fictional characters. Dune (2021) uses orientalist themes and is inspired by SWANA cultures. many offensive media made ab arabs, but wont i b able to fit all here. racism/xenophobia against ppl in SWANA didnt start with 9/11 and its not over either.

twt original thread here!

#orientalism #threads #swana

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wanjikusblog · 11 months

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A different construction of history.

Leila Aboulela, Sudanese-Egyptian economist and statistician turned fiction writer.

Last year, Nairobi's premier literary festival embarked on an ambitious mission to curate and represent various aspects of the African journey through literature, by bringing to this city's streets and screens such writers as the softly spoken Abdulai Silá of Guinea Bissau, Patrice Nganang of Cameroon who doubles as a human rights activist, British writer Hafsa Zayyan, not to mention 2021 Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah.

This year, the Macondo Festival is whetting literary appetites with the promise of bringing to Nairobi, none other than acclaimed Sudanese-Egyptian writer Leila Aboulela. What's more, Aboulela will be bringing along with her an agenda that involves the retelling of history from the horse's own mouth, from a perspective of the Africans to whom colonialism and occupation happened.

And what better tool to bring Aboulela's agenda into sharp focus, than her latest book "River Spirit." Published in March this year, "River Spirit" has been described as a coming of age novel, and in it Aboulela parallels the life and vicissitudes of the novel's main protagonist, with Sudan's 19th century struggle for self determination.

The physical and emotional displacements of Akuany, a Southern Sudanese girl who's been uprooted from her village in Malakal, are used as the backdrop against which Aboulela trots out at least four main characters across the turbulent but rich tapestry of Sudanese history.

And make no mistake, modern Sudanese history has seen it all— from Turco-Egyptian occupation, to the Madhists uprising, to French incursion, to British occupation, to independence from the British, and most recently the partitioning of Sudan into Arab North and Christian and Animist South.

Suffice to say that Aboulela has always had a penchant for delving into the depths of African history. She has previously teased out the theme of displacement as a result of colonialism, an effort which garnered her the 2000 Caine Prize for African writing.

Indeed, Aboulela’s Caine Prize winning short story "The Museum," uses the displacement of inanimate artifacts from their original cultural environment, and juxtaposes that displacement with the displacement of peoples from their physical environment and their cultural milieu. Seen behind a museum case, artifacts are labelled in the dominant voice of the colonizer, similar to an African history that's largely been chronicled in the colonizer's voice.

For those who'll be lucky enough to meet her in Nairobi, here's a snippet of what to expect. Aboulela recently sat down for an interview with Pan-African magazine 'African Arguments,' and shed more light on her quest to recast African history through her novel that's set against the 1884 siege of Khartoum.

________________

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS: First, warm congratulations on yet another literary milestone. We would love to know how you came to write this book. Could you tell us about its genesis?

LEILA ABOULELA: I grew up in Khartoum. Our house was about 4km away from the palace on the Blue Nile where, in 1884, an embattled General Charles Gordon used to stand on the roof, looking out with his telescope, desperate for the arrival of the British relief expedition. Khartoum was under siege by the armies of the Mahdi and that thrilling story with its tragic ending is something that has always enthralled me. Knowing the location well and studying the history in school and university, made it a familiar backdrop against which I could set my novel. The very initial idea for River Spirit was of a young man from Edinburgh who becomes fascinated by the vernacular architecture of colonial Sudan. He paints the Nile and starts to dress like a native. When he sketches the wife of a tribal chief and the drawing is discovered, his career and safety are in jeopardy. I ended up deviating quite far from this original idea. As I was writing, the woman in the drawing/ painting took centre stage, and the artist no longer became the main character.

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS: The book centres on Akuany, an orphaned girl who is sold into slavery. Where did your inspiration for her character come from?

ABOULELA: In the Sudan Archives at Durham university, I found a bill of sale for a woman called Zamzam. I was shocked by this discovery. I knew that slavery existed in nineteenth century Sudan, but to hold in my hand a bill of sale, with an actual monetary figure and the names of the people involved, was quite startling. I also found a petition detailing the case of an enslaved woman who had escaped with a stolen item of clothing from her mistress. She had gone back to her former master, and it was against him that the petition was raised. I found this situation intriguing and complex enough for me to want to fill in the gaps with fiction. I started researching East African slavery, the extent of it, how it differed from the transatlantic West Coast slavery and how nineteenth century Sudan was a gateway to the lucrative markets of Cairo and Istanbul.

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS: Akuany isn’t the book’s only female voice – other characters include Fatimah, Yaseen’s mother, and his wife, Salha. It’s refreshing to have so many female voices on a period that we usually only hear through the voices of men. Could you talk a little about this?

ABOULELA: Unfortunately, women are merely footnotes in the historical records. I had to dig and pick up threads here and there. Certainly, I never found a first-person account from a woman’s perspective. Throughout the Mahdist wars, women accompanied the army. They cooked, nursed and set up market stalls every step of the way. They also played a part in espionage, gathering data and passing it on – this inspired the role played by Yaseen’s mother in the novel. I was also excited to discover that the Mahdi had sent a woman ambassador to the Khartoum palace. I also used that in the novel.

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS: As popular interest in the historical novel in Africa grows, what are your thoughts on its future in African fiction?

ABOULELA: Mainstream history has been written by the coloniser. This is their truth. It is time for us to tell ours. When Africans write history, we are not necessarily saying something about the world today. Much of the motivation comes from wanting to tell our side of the story. I am more excited by African historical novels than by any other genre. At the moment, Africa’s encounter with Europe is the focus of much historical fiction. Perhaps in the future, writers will move away from this and delve into the even deeper past before European colonialism. There is a rich, fascinating history that needs to be told.

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS: Could you please share your experience of researching and writing this novel? While a number of the central characters were actual historical figures, were the other major characters purely invented, are they composites of individuals you encountered during your research, or are they stand-in figures perhaps for individuals you did not want to name?

ABOULELA: None are stand-in individuals. The actual historical figures were the Mahdi, Gordon, Sheikh Amin Al-Darir and Rabiha. Much has been written about the Mahdi and even more about Gordon and there were his journals too. So apart from conjuring up Gordon’s voice, there was a large amount of material to work with – and that posed a challenge too because I had to be selective. On the contrary, there was very little on Al-Darir, head of the Khartoum ulema, so I depended on my imagination. Rabiha appears in the historical records as a footnote – the woman who overheard a conversation as she was herding her goats and then ran through the night to warn the revolutionaries about the government’s intended attack. She is mentioned time and again in every record but with little detail. I enjoyed fleshing her out and elevating her position through my imagination.

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS: Could you tell us more about the concept of the ‘Mahdi’ in Islam?

ABOULELA: The Mahdi is not mentioned in the Qur’an. He is, though, described in great detail in many of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, the Hadith. He is described as the Expected Redeemer, the Rightly Guided One, who would, close to the end of Time, bring justice and prosperity after years of earthquakes, tyranny and oppression. His name would be Muhammed Abdullah, he would rule for seven or eight prosperous years and during these years many of the imminent signs that herald the end of the world will take place. Throughout the history of Islam, around thirty men claimed to be the Expected Mahdi.

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS: You speak of having grown up 4km from Gordon’s Palace. Are there any other elements of your family’s history in the novel?

ABOULELA: My great grandfather was an immigrant from the south of Egypt, and he was an employee in the colonial government. He was staunchly opposed to the Mahdi in every possible way. When the Mahdi and his army entered Omdurman, my great grandfather dug a pit in his yard and hid his five daughters there because he was afraid they would be raped. I used the idea of the pit in the novel but to hide a man rather than young girls!

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS: Given your reliance on the colonial archive, do you believe it is important to widen access especially to Western archives for writers who do not have access to records of their own history? We ask this in the light of the current artefacts restitution campaign. While its target is looted African artefacts, the bulk of the colonial documentary archive was carted off to imperial capitals at the end of the colonial era and remains largely inaccessible to Africans on the continent. Is there a need for a similar restitutive campaign targeting the colonial archive?

ABOULELA: Because I am bilingual, I did not need to rely solely on the archives found in Britain. Half of my research was dependent on Arabic records. Even though some of these primary sources had been translated into English and I read English faster, I read them in the original Arabic. They are brilliant because they expose ordinary people’s day to day lives during these wars. Through them I was able to learn about the texture of life at the time, how people ate, travelled, communicated, their expectations and anxieties. In answer to your question, I believe it is important to widen access and a restitutive campaign is justified. I would also stress the issue of records written in mother tongues and translations because it is within these local languages that the primary African perspective resides. It is shocking for example that one of my most valued primary sources, The Memoirs of Babiker Badri (born in 1861), written in Arabic and widely published in Sudan, is out of print in its English translation. And even that translation, carried out in the early 1960s can do with some freshening up. This is a vital African text and yet it is not widely accessible due to the issue of translation. I am sure there are other texts too, written in African languages, that need to be translated and published.

AFRICAN ARGUMENTS: Finally, we are eager to hear more about your research into slavery in the old Ottoman Empire that tyrannised much of East Africa and the Horn. What is its enduring legacy in the region, its hinterlands and diasporas?

ABOULELA: To my surprise, I did not find abundant resources on East Coast Slavery. It is definitely an area that needs to be further researched. Ironically after decades of active engagement in the trans-Atlantic slavery, Britain launched a passionate attack on the Ottoman/Arab/Egyptian slave trade. Suppressing it became a reason for British expansion and the subsequent colonisation of Sudan. As a result, much that was written about the Ottoman slave trade is laden with a righteous European indignation that was intent on justifying the need for colonial expansion in order to suppress the brutal East Coast slave trade. When people think of slavery, they are likely to think of the long Atlantic passage and the plantation culture accompanied by deep systematic racism. The East Coast slave experience was different. Capitalism was not the driving force of the Arabs and Ottomans. Instead, they mostly enslaved men for military service and women for domestic labour. You ask about the legacy. When I read about the Sudanese child soldiers recruited by Saudi Arabia for their war in Yemen, and the Ethiopian maids abused in Lebanon, my blood runs cold.

#facebook #literature #literary #african news #books and reading #news #political history #history #east africa #books

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gelu-the-babosa-multiversal · 3 years

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The past remembered today-ML/DC-AU Crossover

I have consumed too much ML / DC crossover content, so I decided to contribute a bit with an idea that came to me while taking a shower (the best ideas come when I take a shower).

It is about Hawkman (Katar Hol) and Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol) knowing the secret of the miraculous and kwamis since ancient times (we are going to establish it in the time of the Egyptian Ladybug), I will use the lore of DCAU Justice League Unlimited (JLU).

This is just a brief explanation of how this UA works. If you like it, leave some FeedBack, Reblog, and comment. Besides that, if you write something about this, add me in a tag.

Hawkman and Hawkgirl were worshiped as gods at that time due to their appearances, so they were relegated to emperors. Meaning that they had many servants and maidservants. With the time of his reign, Shayera and Katar became more distant, they were losing affection for each other, this turned when one of Katar's most loyal servants informed him that his wife, Shayera, was dating one of the Warriors.

In those times, Katar met two warriors, humans as powerful as he. Their names were, the cat warrior Sphinx, and the ladybug warrior Ruby Beatle (they are not canon).

Unknowingly, both warriors were servants of the palace where Katar and Shayera lived. The cat warrior worked as a village marketer, and the ladybug warrior worked inside the palace as a cleaner.

Things happen. Keter decides to keep an eye on those warriors, their powers caught his attention, but what caught his attention the most was the warrior Ruby Beatle. Besides that, they fought with creatures that Katar had never seen.

Over time, Katar and Shayera met other similar warriors, one with the theme of Bee, another with the theme of Goat, another with the theme of dog, and many more.

The thing is, Kater had no love for Ruby Beatle but considered her a good friend. Both in her warrior form and in her normal servant form, Ladybug was there to comfort Katar, for what was going on in his love life (not knowing that Katar was an alien sent to conquer the earth).

After some adventures told in Egyptian mythology, they met the Order of the Guardians and know the secrets of the miraculous, also knowing the identities of the warriors.

Chaos soon broke out as the events described in the episode The Pharaoh and the combination of the episode Shadow of the Hawk unfolded. Although Katar and Shayera helped the warriors stop the portal to the underworld from opening, Shayera lost her life to poisoning. After Katar killed himself with the same poison, the two warriors became the new rulers of Egypt.

Since then, Katar and Shayera, reincarnate for centuries meeting new versions of Chat Noir and Ladybug. Being friends again even though CN and LB don't remember/know them.

But there was a period of time when they did not find new versions of the miraculous holders until they discovered the destruction of the temple in Tibet. They searched, without anything more than being able to do, without anyone to help them, and without any clue, they could only find a book that contained part of the secrets of the miraculous (not the same as Master Fu).

Well, until the Justice League was formed, they met two Parisinian heroes who looked a lot like ... old friends.

And yea, this is inspired by the #Mominette au from@nobodyfamousposts

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hwrryscherry · 3 years

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The one where Y/N is a princess.

characters: HARRYxPRINCESSY/N

blurb: Y/N is the youngest daughter of Prince Charles and Princess Diana which makes herself the youngest sister of William and Harry(the duke of Sussex). Harry(Styles) and she meet at the Dunkirk premiere when Y/N attended with her brother Harry. This time, Harry(Styles) is in London and show Princess Y/N what it feels like to be just a girl called ‘’Y/N’’ for a day.

word count: 2.4K

warnings: fluff, a little sad in the end.

author’s note: I received a request about Y/N being a heiress and my mind just go directly to royalty so I guess this could be cool? I tried lol. If you’re british and you felt ofended by any way while reading this I’m extremely sorry!!!! I hope you guys like it as much as I do. And also, I just wanted to share that I wrote this listening to ‘’Ophelia’’ by The Lumineers and ‘’The Book of You & I’’ by Alec Benjamin.

You and Harry scheduled to meet in the British Museum situated in the Bloomsbury area of London even though it was a public space, it wouldn’t be a surprise as people already knew that you and harry new each other. You both met on the Dunkirk premiere which you attended together with your brother Harry. Harry(Styles) was such a gentleman, he actually were nervous. As a British man he respects the royal family as much possibler than he can, and he would never want to make neither you nor your brother to feel uncomfortable.

But anyway, you both scheduled there because Harry had been in England for a while and as you stayed friends it just felt right to meet up. You actually felt really tired, emotionally tired. You were so used to traveling the most amazing places with friends and now being basically locked up at The Buckingham Palace because of the corona virus felt draining for you. So when Harry came up with the meeting you were so glad to finally be leaving home, and Harry has always been the type of person who you felt like you could talk openly and be exactly who you want to be, and we don’t even have to say that the British museum it’s probably one of your favorite places in London. You were enamored by art, and there were so many interesting things in there and every time you’ll go there you’d find something new.

It was 9am and the museum it’s actually closed now but you did have some perks. You were in the Egyptian part accompanied by your bodyguard Jasper, when you suddenly listened the rough voice of you dearly friend coming closer to you making you turn yourself to look at him getting closer. He greeted you with a simple hug in which you reciprocated by opening a slight smile looking at him.

— Hello, darling — Harry said while using his hands to style his short and messy hair with a smile on his face. — How are you?

— Hi, I’ve been good, just tired! But what about you? — You asked as you both started to walk through the beautiful masterpieces — How’s your mom and Gemma? — You had that really strong British accent, which Harry understood completly, and he really likes it. He thinks it’s the cutest thing. Actually, Harry thought everything about you were extremely cute, you both have a little crush on each other but as you already told him a lot of times before, just the thought of how many things he’d have to leave for because of the royal regulation made you sad for him. You’d never ask him for something like that.

— They’re good but... — Harry stopped walking looking fixedly to your face trying to analyze your emotions by their expressions — Why are you tired? I mean, I understand it must be really bad living in a castle but anyway, what happened? — Harry said smirking at you and your reaction of laughing and rolling your eyes at him.

— Haha, really funny! You should be a humorist — You answered mocking a bit and running your right hand through your hair as you started walking again — And I asked you how were you, you won’t answer? I’ll lock you in the dungeon for your audacity! — You both always joked like this because when you first started being friends, Harry had all that idea about the old royalty with dungeons and prisoners so you’d always make fun of him for that.

— Alright, alright! I'm good, they're good, we're all good. Now, tell me! — Harry said putting his right hand slightly on your shoulder making you stop walking and look at him with all your attention. You sighed trying to form your words to explain exactly what you were feeling to him.

— I don't know, I'm just... I'm so tired of the routine, you know? I wish I could just go out to do the craziest things and not be recognized. — You were looking straight to Harry's green eyes, it felt like they were watching your soul because e was giving you his full atention. The boy really did care about you. He stayes quiet for a while in complete silence, it was a comfortable silence though. It never felt like you and Harry needed to talk all the time when you got together because it was nice just to stay together and enjoy each other's company.

— Let me take you out! — Harry suddenly said after a few seconds making your eyes widen up as you looked at him.

— Excuse me? — You asked.

— Let me take you out! We can put on some disguises and take the best London tour we can find, I bet you've never done it! — Harry said with a little smirk in the end. He was right, you never took a tour through your own city which seems crazy — You know... I really like you and if you wanna have fun this could be great! You'll be just a girl called Y/N and I'll be just a boy called Harry. — He said trying to argue with your thoughts thinking if this would actually be a good thing to do. But you didn't really have anything to lose, did you? — So, do you wanna do a bunch of fun things with me today? — Harry held out his right hand to you indicating that as soon as you shake his hand you would leave that museum and probably have the best day of your life, and so you did.

So as soon as you could, you both were out of that museum with the most ridiculous disguises, if I might say. Harry changed his fashionable clothes for some neutral grey hoodie and you changed your cute black dress to a jeans and hoodie as well. Your heart raced a bit when you both left that museum, the fear of being recognized was in you. It's not that you don't love the people of this nation, it's just... a day off could fit you pretty well.

It was hard to convince Jasper to leave you both alone though, it was his job to keep you safe and actually you don't even remember the last time you left your home without him, you just needed freedom for a while but you did convince him. He spent some minutes actually talking to Harry tons of rules about keeping both of you safe and how he couldn't risk your life and all that stuffs.

For the first time in your life, you were on those big, red and popular British bus. You and Harry entered by the back door and within minutes, you both were on the upon side of it on the last chairs. You looked through the window admiring this city and thinking about how much you would never want to live anywhere else. Harry was making a lot of dad jokes beside you though. You tried to laugh as lowly as you could but it was almost impossible, come on “What's the name of a man with a rubber toe? Roberto” it's so bad that it turns out to be funny. But anyway, the bus took both of us to King Cross where you entered a very popular fast-food place called “Five Guys” as Harry guaranteed you was the best he'd ever had and even though you'd doubted it so much, you agreed to go with him. When you were there, you ordered the biggest burger it had on the menu, which actually surprised Harry, but he surprised it too as he ordered it on the name of “Archie and Eleanor” so you could maintain your disguise.

— So.. Archie and Eleanor? — You asked smirking when you finally took the first bite of your burger. It was delicious but Harry was definitely lying, this is not the best one ever, but yep, all for the experience.

— Come on, you loved it! It's very charming, don't you think? — Harry asked as he took a sip of his coca-cola. It's crazy how these stupid disguises was working, is it really that impossible to recognize someone with a hoodie, cap and sunglasses? You didn't want to know because you were having a nice time.

— You know what, I think we need to get those Chinese cookies because I wanna read my luck! — You commented making him shook his head in reaction to your ask.

— Ok so we need to dinner Chinese food so bad! — You argued taking Harry from surprise as he didn't thought you'd stay this late with him.

— You'd have to buy actual Chinese food, you can't just buy the cookie! — He answered raising his eyebrows at you taking his last bite of his burger.

It didn't take much long for you both to be moving again. It was definitely the best day you've had in a while. You both went to Kensigton High Street and bought the most stupid UK theme hats. Harry bought a fake glasses too; it was blue and had a UK flag handed on it making you laugh every time you looked at his face.

— Come on, I still look cute! — He said putting his hands on his hips and posing like a model, on the middle of the street.

— If you say so!

Next you both went all your way up to Abbey Road which is the famous street from The Beatles photo, and you and Harry as the great fans you are had to copy them. You asked to a random person to take a photo of you two with the best American accent you could impersonate to her. The photo looked so cool and a car almost hit you two but you were fine and for some reason you both laughed and ran to the woman with your phone.

— Oh, to be drunk in love! You both are a really cute couple. — The old lady said giving your phone back to you and walked away before any of you could contest her. You both looked at each other and Harry smirked at you.

— Oh, we're such a cute couple! — Harry said blinking his eyes on a very cute way and you just rolled your eyes at him and started walking again.

— Come on, Styles! I wanna go to the Queen's Gallery — You said walking your way up to the bus stop. Harry had a big smile on his face, he didn't remember the last time he actually had that much fun. He loved England. He loved those places and he loved having this much fun with you.

In the Queen's Gallery, you and Harry tried to not make that much of a noise, it was a museum right? But it felt hard to keep it quiet because you both were taking the weirdest and funniest photos with the arts in there, for a moment you even thought you both were going to be expulsed of the location, but you didn't. None of you realized how much the time was flying and it was probably 3 pm now.

The next step was the Columbia Road Flower Market. It was probably the coolest thing of your day. You both ran around taking a lot of photos and videos. You bought one of the most delicious breads in there. You were looking at some flowers when Harry came back to you with a bunch of pink tulips on his hand, it was your favorite flowers and he knew it.

You both went to so many places actually; you went to HMS Belfast, Battersea Park, Albert Memorial, Old Spiralfields Market, Serpentine Lake, Carnaby Street and Holland Park.

When it was closer to the sunset, you went to Princess Diana Memorial Garden. It was a hard place for you. It has always been and Harry even asked if you really wanted to go there, but you did. You needed to sit down for a moment on your life and miss your mom. You were little when she died so you're probably the only one of your brothers that remember her the least.

You both lied down on the grass. It had a fresh breeze in the air, but the sun was still out, it was that golden hour moment. You rested your head on Harry's thorax looking up to the sunset orange sky above you.

— You know this can be great... If we're willing to try! — Harry said in a very low tone. He was caressing your hair with his hand analysing your face, so he could get any reaction for you.

— It would be for a while. — You said sitting up to look at his face, your faces were a few inches apart, the golden coloration on his face giving him the glow he did have naturally — But what would happen 3 years from now when someone tells you that you couldn't perform anymore? Or you couldn't release your songs? It's not right, I can't ask you this! — Harry looked away for a moment, probably trying to contain his emotions and think, just think — But we have today, we have now. Maybe we should just enjoy what we have now!

He looked back at you, directly into your eyes and again, comfortable silence. The comfortable silence Harry thought was so overrated felt right any time he was with you. He put himself closer to you if that even it's possible. His ring handed touched your cheek, eyes never distracting, you leaned in and your lips touched his. It felt magical, it felt quiet and it felt right.

The sun was out now, bringing the night and the sky full of stars. You both were by The Mall avenue, running, and dancing to the song playing backwards; it was Ophelia by the Lumineers, after that day, this song was your song and any time any of you listened to it, each other was brought up to your minds. You called it a night when you both were by the top of the London Eye, where all the big lights inspired you. When the cold breeze hit your hair and the height scared you but Harry made you feel safe.

Harry dropped you off at the castle's gate at midnight, just as he promised. You stayed by the balcony of your room until the sunrise looking at the sky because you knew that Harry was on the other side looking at the sky too thinking about how you'd never get to finish the book of you and him, and if you weren't faded to end together at least you had today.

#harry x reader #hwrryscherry #harry styles imagine #harry styles imagines #harry and y/n #harry styles and y/n #hwrryscherryxreader

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eggoreviews · 5 years

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Persona 5 Palaces RANKED

After recently finishing up Persona 5, I'm sort of aching a bit for more content but not quite enough to splash on Dancing in Starlight. So, to sate my cravings for more of the phantom bois, here's my personal ranking of the main palaces you traverse through in the game. This list is based on how fun and consistently interesting each palace is in terms of gameplay, puzzles, soundtrack, character, aesthetic and overall relevance to the story. Hope u enjoy/agree! Kinda goes without saying, but MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD for the whole ass game

8. Okumura’s Spaceport of Greed

Who saw this coming? Probably everyone! Because Okumura's palace is pretty much consistently ranked at the bottom of every ranking I've seen. But before I go all negative, let's start with what I actually liked. First off, I ADORED the spaceport motif and the whole theme/aesthetic of this palace was amazing. Alongside that, the music, while probably not the strongest in the game, was still mega catchy and fit the palace perfectly (it's still a banger, even if it isn't Whims of Fate level banger). So yeah, this palace's rock bottom ranking is nothing to do with its look or its soundtrack, because they're both pretty tasty. It was everything else I had a slight problem with. Now this isn't to say I disliked this palace, I just felt that it was the weakest part of an absolutely stellar game. While the majority of the puzzles weren't terrible, the infamous airlock puzzle definitely got in my bad books, as I'm pretty firmly in the 'this puzzle is weird luck-based bollocks' camp on this one, with it being the only puzzle in the game I had to look up the solution for. The constant back-and-forthing to different points of the palace to pick up keycards from the stupid robots became unfortunately very repetitive, especially with Morgana constantly screaming at me that the treasure was real close but (spoiler alert) it totally wasn't. And to top all that off, I felt this palace brought with it the weakest characters arcs in the whole game. I really struggled to become attached to Haru, the last true member of the thieves. While she was an okay character and I sympathised with her plight of being sold off to that one arsehole, I felt she wasn't written to be particularly interesting and her introduction to the thieves felt really shoehorned in compared to the natural-feeling transitions of all the other characters. She didn't quite feel as if she belonged there as much as the others (big sorry to all the Haru stans). And echoing this, the character of Okumura himself also felt incredibly bland and he was without a doubt the least interesting villain of the bunch. Oh, and his boss fight? Objectively the worst in the game. You fight the same robots you've been fighting the whole palace, with a timer, and then you kill him in one hit. Yeah, so the tea is, palace looks and sounds great, but that's really it.

7. Mementos Depths / Prison of Sloth

From this point on, I had very few problems with any of the palaces. As the final dungeon of the game, I felt that this one had definitely had adequate build-up but, as many others seem to say, didn't quite live up to the other palaces. For one, the design and soundtrack was much less interesting (though I guess this can be forgiven, as it's Mementos) and it was over pretty quickly in the end. But I really did enjoy those pressure plate puzzles for some reason and it was pretty cool to go around the velvet room and save all your pals before the final fight, so I just kind of liked this one. Not much to say here other than that it was really good, but the others were better.

6. Kaneshiro’s Bank of Gluttony

While it was fairly difficult to rank Kaneshiro's palace this low, considering it has the awakening of my favourite character, thinking about the palace as a whole compared to the others is what did it. The bank motif? Really cool! Seems inevitable for what is fundamentally a heist game and pulls it off really well. And that soundtrack is easily one of the best tracks in the game. The palace itself is split vaguely into two main sections, the main bank and the vault. The bank section is mostly pretty fun and well-paced, but the palace starts to get just a little bit iffy when the vault section kicks off. The idea is cool, but most of the second half of the palace feels a bit like padding, which becomes a little repetitive overtime. These really are minor gripes though, I gotta stress that, because I genuinely enjoyed this palace for the most part. Something else I enjoyed was Kaneshiro himself and his role in the story. Out of all the palace owners in the game, Kaneshiro felt the most like a true archetypal Bond villain and it does feel awesome to take him on as the phantom thieves are finally starting to get their feet off the ground. On top of that, you've got Makoto joining the team, which makes this one a real treat character-wise. In conclusion, I want Makoto to step on me.

5. Madarame’s Museum of Vanity

This one really did have a tough act to follow. Being the second palace you take on (as well as the awakening of my ,,,, second favourite character), I remember how impressed I was the first time around with how cool the visuals are in this palace. The soundtrack to the palace is generally fairly unremarkable, but very calming and surreal which definitely fit the setting. This palace definitely feels the most trippy out of the bunch, placing you in odd gold-plated mazes and endless corridors plastered with distorted paintings and tripwires to constantly make sure you're paying attention. This palace really does feel like you’ve been placed inside the mind of a deluded artist, even if the game’s attempts to make Madarame seem despicable only really serve to highlight how awful the previous palace owner, Kamoshida, is in comparison. This isn’t to say Madarame isn’t a trashbag, it just becomes obvious that the game is trying hard to make you hate him. That aside, Madarame’s palace provides a welcome challenge and effectively build upon what you learned in the first palace without overwhelming the player, all the while not compromising on the creative, stunning visuals. The ending pay-off with Madarame’s showdown, while a satisfying conclusion to Yusuke’s main character arc, provides a boss fight that is over a little too quickly, though that’s kind of just nitpicking at that point. All in all, a solid dungeon from start to finish.

4. Futaba’s Tomb of Wrath

Without a doubt the most emotionally charged palace in the game, this dungeon is a unique experience unlike anything else you’ll find in the game. Instead of taking down a despicable villain or giving a certain prosecutor a push in the right direction, you’re instead helping to heal the heart of a traumatised girl, who requested herself for her heart to be stolen. You’re reaching the halfway point during this palace, so it’s a brilliant change of pace from the dickholes you’ve been stealing the hearts of up to this point. The game truly makes you feel genuine sympathy for Futaba and seeing her recovery slowly but steadily take place over the game really tugs on the heartstrings. As for the palace itself, the game takes its love of ambiguous metaphors and cranks up the dial, giving the player an interesting but oddly melancholy setting in the form of an Egyptian pyramid. The background music for this palace is perfect to help accentuate this, as the soundtrack works with the visuals to make you just feel a bit sad. The puzzles are well thought out and never overstay their welcome, the layout of the palace is consistently unique and fun to traverse and the ending boss is one of the most creative, high-stakes battles in Persona 5. And while Futaba’s awakening wasn’t my favourite, it’s great to see her finally face her demons and accept that her mother’s death wasn’t her fault. But most of all, this palace reminds you that you should never get too comfortable when playing Persona 5, as the tables could turn at any minute and suddenly make you care about the person you’re changing the heart of.

3. Kamoshida’s Castle of Lust

Kamoshida is arguably the biggest scumbag you take on in Persona 5, so it makes a lot of sense that his palace is one of the most satisfying to undertake. The castle acts as the perfect starting dungeon, teaching you the ropes without too much hand-holding and providing you with simple but visually interesting palace to boot. Before the game drags you into its grandiose main plot, you start with a much smaller scale, but equally despicable villain that you immediately know you have to deal with. And on top of that, each character introduction is seamless and fits perfectly in with the narrative. The puzzles here are simple enough to be basically harmless and each area of the castle you navigate changes things up to keep it unique while teaching you the inner workings of the palaces you’ll be taking down for the rest of the game. As for the first boss, the build-up feels perfect as the tension amps up and reaches boiling point as you send your first calling card. Oh, and Kamoshida’s boss design himself as this horrifying, weird lust demon definitely sets you up for what’s ahead. Great as a beginning act, but also a heckin solid dungeon in its own right. Plus, I’m a sucker for castles, so I might be a little biased here.

2. Niijima’s Casino of Jealousy

I’ll be honest with you, I think a casino is one of the most awesome ideas for a dungeon I’ve ever heard of in a JRPG. And everything about this one is near enough perfect. The reveal that you’ll be targeting the person who’s been interrogating you for the whole game, the link back to the very starting cutscene, the tension mounting as you desperately try to work out who the traitor is, Makoto’s emotional turmoil as she wrestles with the ethics of targeting her own sister. Story-wise, this is totally perfect. And the dungeon itself? Definitely the most consistently unique in the whole game. Each floor you traverse in the casino offers something new and interesting for you to work around, from the rigged dice games to the dark labyrinth and the battle arena trial (not to mention the whole ‘collect enough coins to proceed’ thing reminded me way too much of Sonic Adventure and for some reason, I’m putting that down as a good thing). Whims of Fate is a perfect soundtrack, because it totally fits the atmosphere and also it’s a bop and I love it to pieces. And the palace wraps itself up neatly in a little bow with a boss fight that totally kicks arse. Sae Niijima starts the battle by, of course, rigging the game against you. But once her cheating facade falls away, the true battle begins and she morphs into a weird, distorted mech thing that takes heavy inspiration from Makoto’s persona too. Basically, it’s cool. And I love it.

1. Shido’s Cruiser of Pride

This is likely to be a controversial choice for the best palace in the game, as it’s generally agreed among most fans that Shido’s palace was a bit slightly rubbish. But really, I couldn’t disagree more. Yes, Sae’s palace was the definition of awesome, but something about Shido’s just one-upped it somehow. Of course, your character’s personal connection with this mission that was absent from the other previous palaces gives this one a much more dramatic feel, as you finally get to take on the guy orchestrating everyone’s suffering (if you don’t count good ol’ Optimus Prime from the final palace) and it’s as satisfying as it needs to be. The soundtrack is suitably epic and lends itself well as a precursor to the finale and exploring the cruiser is both intriguing and enjoyable throughout, as you navigate each section of this bloated paradise filled with rich arseholes. But at the same time, the whole Noah’s Ark thing with Shido only saving those willing to submit to him makes this palace as chilling as it is visually stunning. For me, this was a brilliant dungeon beginning to end, as collecting ‘letters of recommendation’ from each of Shido’s cognitive allies allows for a deeper insight into Shido as a character, but also builds you up nicely to the palace’s climax. Plenty of nice character moments and the boss fight, while not the best in the game, was still a strong point. Oh and yeah, I actually really liked the rat puzzles. The puzzles everyone seems to hate? Thought they provided a nice amount of challenge and never really felt like they were dragging on for hugely long. But what really peaked this palace on top of all the others was the encounter with Mr. Pancakes towards the end. Akechi was a brilliantly crafted character throughout his stint in the game and his arc had a fitting conclusion before you finally take on Shido. I was mega happy with this palace and honestly, it was the one cemented this game as one of my big faves.

Got a palace ranking of your own? Or even just one that stood out as your personal favourite? Let me know down below!

#persona 5 #p5 #persona #shin megami tensei #ps4 #ren amamiya #gaming #games #akira kusuru #ryuji sakamoto #ann takamaki #persona 5 yusuke #makoto niijima #morgana #futaba #haru okumura

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tessatechaitea · 5 years

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Year of the Villain: The Riddler #1

My shadow is always an asterisk.

The answer to this question is easy if you were alive for the Dead Baby joke trend in the eighties.

Batman knows some good Dead Baby jokes too!

A baby impaled on a globe!

The Riddler is upset because Lex Luthor hasn't asked him to join the whole Year of the Villains extravaganza. Of course Lex didn't! Why would he want anything to do with a pedo Batman villain? Okay, sure, he's working with The Joker. But that's probably because he's seriously afraid of The Joker. Also, maybe he's working with the one of the two Jokers (out of the three!) that aren't pedophiles. But Lex Luthor does pay The Riddler a visit!

Hopefully Lex just came by to out The Riddler and punch him in his disgusting face.

I don't know what's on The Riddler's trophy that Lex is holding but I'm sure it will be important on the last page of the comic book. Sort of a Rosebud surprise that explains why The Riddler is the gross, incompetent jerk he is. I hope it's first place in a Dead Baby joke telling contest. Lex tells The Riddler a story that's supposed to help The Riddler figure out why he's such an incompetent jerk. It's a riddle of sorts so The Riddler should be able to figure it out by the end of the issue. I hope he does because I'm sure not going to figure it out! It's not like Scott Lobdell wrote this issue where I'd have it all figured out by the third page (after the first two pages were done recapping the last issue and also changing some things that Scott apparently didn't like and figured nobody would remember a month later (that being said, his trades must be hell to edit together)). This was written by Mark Russell! I mean, I wouldn't say Mark Russell is smarter than me. But I would say that he thinks differently than me in a way that "society" might "deem" "more intelligent." Tut (not King Tut because that would probably create legal troubles between whoever owns the television series characters and DC Comics) decides to join forces with The Riddler so they can catch Batman in an Egyptian-themed riddle trap! This is where I think up a bunch of dead baby jokes where the answer involves being able to fuck the dead babies but I'd rather not do that because everybody on the Internet will judge me. They'll be all, "Who would think up a joke about comparing a stack of dead babies to the pyramid at Giza and how you'd break your dick trying to fuck the pyramid?! Ugh! Cancelled!" I don't want to be cancelled! I don't want my last tweet to be, "Et tu, Internet?" Tut and Riddler prepare for capturing and killing Batman so they can get their filthy hands on young, innocent, hairless Dick Grayson by sending a missive to Commissioner Gordon.

I don't know if this should make me feel closer to Mark Russell as a writer or closer to Mark Russell's idea of Tut who is a terrible writer?

While Batman walks into Tut's trap (which maybe should be in quotation marks because all traps should be in quotation marks when Batman is walking into them?), The Riddler thinks about the trophy and what it meant to him. It was awarded to him for solving some class mystery in under a minute. And it represented respect. But Lex says some sort of AA hoodoo about the mistake of living for the past and trying to prove you're not who you used to be rather than just getting on with living for the future which eats away at The Riddler until he just up and quits being The Riddler. But what will he become?! Can any other writer figure out the answer to that riddle or has Mark Russell ensured that he'll have at least one more gig at DC in the future?! Maybe Tom King can answer the riddle. And I bet Brian Michael Bendis can make the riddle not matter anymore and just bring The Riddler back like he was. And maybe Dan Jurgens can answer the question by bringing back the 1986 version of The Riddler while ignoring the events of this comic book completely. Or maybe Geoff Johns can bring Scrooge McDuck into the DC Universe to fix The Riddler by offering him loads of gold to continue being The Riddler? Or maybe Garth Ennis can be hired on to make The Riddler step up and actually come out as The Diddler in a Vertigo Diddler series that would show The Diddler fucking up kids in ways that would make all the shit that happened to Herr Starr in The Preacher look like a fun day out at the local water park! Or maybe The Riddler will just come back as a hero who asks villains riddles where the answer is almost always, "A kick to the groin, asshole!" I guess that version would be written by Mark Millar! Year of the Villain: The Riddler #1 Rating: A+. I think I promised to always rate Mark Russel and Tom King books as "A+" because who else is writing stories of this quality in the DC bullpen? Fucking nobody, that's who! Okay, maybe Bendis but I'm not reading Bendis's books anymore. Except for Batman Universe which stars The Riddler but dumber (he's dumber because something in the story is clouding his mind and not because I'm criticizing how well Bendis writes The Riddler. Although making him dumber for plot reasons is a great way to obfuscate Bendis's terrible ability to come up with good riddles! So it's both smart and stupid in a way!).

#Year of the Villain #The Riddler #Mark Russell #DC Comics #DC #Marissa Louise #Scott Godlewski

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thetygre · 6 years

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30 Day Monster Challenge 2 - Day #15: Favorite Great Old One/Monster God

1. Nurgle the Great Unclean One (Warhammer)

I think you can tell a lot about a person by knowing which of the Chaos Gods is there favorite. I’m not saying there’s a right answer, but I’ve always been a Nurgle man myself. Nurgle is more than just the daemon god of disease and entropy; he’s the god of the value of life. Nurgle loves all of his children equally, down to the smallest virus. It can be hard for people to accept that, to realize that they have as much cosmic significance as a single-cell organism, but that’s just because they don’t realize how much love the Urfather has for that little cell. In Nurgle’s phlegmatic embrace, all of us are equal, regardless of race, gender, or cell count.

Nurgle asks only that you spread the love he has so willingly given, so that all may be his children. Death and disease are natural parts of life; we struggle to fight them so, but they always come back to us. Through Nurgle, we may exalt in the power of pus and the greatness gangrene. We grow stronger with each infection, and every tumor is a sign of endurance. We do not die when the Plague Bearer calls us; we merely transform for the vermin and bacteria that consumes us, to be reborn in the eternal cycle. Truly, Grandfather Nurgle moves in wondrous ways.

2. Ithaqua the Wind Walker (August Derleth)

It should come as no surprise that the god of all wendigos is one of my favorite Great Old Ones. The Ithaqua Cycle is probably the best thing August Derleth wrote, for what ever that’s worth. Ithaqua is just such a chilling god; the image of some skull-faced giant thing turning around a mountain is the stuff of nightmares. Ithaqua is the primal urge inside life, the need to do anything to survive in an unrelenting environment. He walks in the cold places of the world, but also in that cold space between worlds, spreading his cannibalistic madness from world to world. Ithaqua himself seems hardly necessary, or the countless wendigos that follow him. It’s the chaos and horror he causes between people in a desperate situation, pitting one man against the other and breaking taboos until only the strongest is left. Ithaqua is the cold and brutality of the North personified.

3. Lolth the Queen of the Demonweb Pits (Dungeons and Dragons)

Lilith is so pastiche these days. You know where the real rebellious queen of evil action is at? Spiders, man, and Lolth is the Spider Queen. Lolth has been in Dungeons and Dragons since the beginning. Wherever the dark elves go, Lolth goes too, like any deity, and her absence from a setting is noticeable. She’s one of D&D’s greatest villains, and countless adventurers have lost their lives in the Demonweb Pits. Her entire realm is an arachnid hell crawling with spiders as small a mite to as big as her spider-golem palace. Lolth is an entity of contrasts; her priesthood is a strict matriarchy, but Lolth herself is absolutely insane. It’s hard to tell if there’s anything left of the elf goddess she used to be. Beneath the layers of scheming, beauty, racially motivated hatred, and plans to conquer the known multiverse lies a beating heart of blind hunger, an overwhelming instinct to survive by strength alone.

4. Saaitii the Hog (William Hope Hodgson)

Saaitii is actually what got this particular entry in the challenge. See, I wanted to do just ‘Top 10 Great Old Ones’, but then I was worried that not everybody would know what the Great Old Ones are and it’s kind of an arbitrary category that Lovecraft wanted people to change from story-to-story for fun, so then I just broadened the category to ‘monster gods’ and now here we are. Anyway, Saaitii is a monster that William Hope Hodgson’s occult detective Thomas Carnacki encountered in his monster-hunting stories. The locals tell Carnacki that Saaitii is the ghost of a boar wrongfully killed long ago, but Carnacki suspects that it’s an extradimensional something using the spirits of dead hogs to try and come through.

First off, I just want to know what William Hope Hodgson’s deal with pigs was. This is explicitly his second pig monster story, following the pig men from The House on the Borderlands. But the usage of that aesthetic is definitely refreshing a little unsettling. In an age of meme-tentacles, we need new and different cosmic horrors. Pigs can be disturbing; we think of them as cute at best and filthy at worst, but rarely evil or malevolent. Even the meanest boar has a kind of nobility to it. But the Hog brings up images of mindless, vicious cruelty, dark things in the forest and filth. The concept of a higher life form like some extradimensional whatsit coming into our world through ‘lower’ lifeforms strikes a little close to the karmic bullseye for some, turning the tables on humanity and reminding us that in the eyes of the cosmos, we’re just so much more food.

5. Ogdru Jahad the Seven Who Are One (Hellboy)

You’d think there’d be more dragons on the list, but so far it’s just the one. Seven. 369. Whatever. The Ogdru Jahad are the Hellboy/BPRD universes Great Old Ones, and the source of… a sizable amount of trouble there. Not all of it, but most of it. At the dawn of time, the Sons of God formed the mud of creation into seven great dragons that were filled with the shadow of the moon, for whatever reason. Things would have been fine and dandy there, but one little angel named Satan, for reasons that are still unclear, took the fire of God and filled the dragon with it, giving the Ogdru Jahad life. The Ogdru Jahad birthed their 369 offspring, and the angels had to fight them off before the whole Creation thing could get rolling. From that day on, every human culture has been warned about the Ogdru Jahad, and they have been ingrained in the human consciousness as the Dragon, from Tiamat to the Beast of Revelations.

It’s a nice fusion of Judeo-Christian Biblical lore and cosmic horror. I honestly don’t think it would work if it wasn’t for the fact that Satan is notably absent from the Hellboy series and, as of BPRD: Hell on Earth, the Ogdru Jahad are winning, where even their smallest children can cause natural disasters. I love conflating the image of dragons with cosmic monsters. Cthulhu as Leviathan, flying polyps as oriental dragons, hunting horrors as wyverns; it’s a direct play to the archetype that both types of creatures fill. The Ogdru Jahad illustrate that perfectly, simultaneously something the most modern of cosmic horror and the most ancient of monsters.

6. Flowey the Flower (Undertale)

Flowey’s final form gets in on design alone. There aren’t a lot of monster designs that actually freak me out, but Flowey is just horrible. Of course that’s also because it’s a genius bit of sprite animation, with the usage of textures contrasting so hard with the rest of Undertale. It looks like something that ate its way inside out from at least three Madoka witches. The claws, the eyes, the mouths; it all makes something perfectly awful and abhorrent. And, of course, the music. I actually think Flowey’s boss theme rates pretty low compared to other Undertale boss themes, but the title is just something else. How are you supposed to do better than “Your Best Nightmare”?

7. Rom the Vacuous Spider (Bloodborne)

It’s Rom. C’mon. Look, I know she’s not actually a Great One; she’s Kin, like Mergo’s Wet Nurse. But look at her. When I think, “What’s my favorite eldritch monstrosity boss from Bloodborne?” I keep coming back to Rom. Just look at her dumb, stupid face. One of her attacks is just falling over. That’s the most relatable a video game has been for me since I was an undergrad. Rom doesn’t want to hurt anybody; she’s just a giant, stupid bug/fungus thing. You could just walk away, man. You could just leave poor Rom alone. She’s doing her best trying to grant people eyes and you’re over here hassling her. In front of her kids, man. Just leave her alone.

8. Moder the Bastard of Loki (The Ritual)

Y’know, as a jotun, this guy could have been on the giant list, but I feel like its design and concept are too unique for that. This is a special monster, a kind of revelatory creature. Its design is just out of this world, blending human and stag and those creepy little eyes. But there’s so much more to it than just a great design. Its ability to create illusions essentially gives it access to shapeshifting, tying it to the actual mythology of Loki and Norse giants. The actual ritual to appease Moder, where it picks a person up and impales them on a tree, is reminiscent of the story in Norse mythology where Odin impales himself on the World Tree Yggdrasil to gain the knowledge of the runes. Before a person is killed, Moder shows them something precious to them, or a defining moment in their life; it is, in its own way, giving the person a revelation about what is vital in their own universe. Moder, like any good monster, delivers a message about the meaning of reality to the people it encounters.

9. Set the Slithering God (Conan the Barbarian/Marvel Comics)

I like this comic book version of a god. The actual Egyptian deity Set is fairly complex, and actually examining his character and divine portfolio gives insight into how Egypt’s culture changes over time. Comic book Set, on the other hand, is the god of snake villains. He is the snake villain to end all snake villains. Marvel cooked him up for their old Conan comics based off an offhand mention in one of Robert E. Howard’s stories because they needed Conan to have a nemesis. So Conan’s nemesis, the arch-wizard/priest Thoth Amon, worships the dark god Set, regardless of the fact that Thoth Amon appeared exactly once in the very first Conan story. Now, it’s fifty years later and Set is apparently one of Marvel’s Primordial Ultra-Deities.

It’s that mixture of traditional myth and the cosmic I like again, though this time it’s less H.P. Lovecraft ‘cosmic horror’ and more Jack Kirby ‘cosmic action’; new gods and a new mythology for a new medium, but still the same old story. Set is the Serpent, like the Ogdru Jahad, manifesting in human lore as everything from the serpent in Eden to Leviathan. He was the first murderer, able to absorb the power of any other god he ate, and even today he seeks reptile supremacy. Wherever there is Set there are snakes, enacting the cosmic cycle of death and rebirth while lounging in decadence.

10. Haos the Ultimate Bio-Weapon (Resident Evil 6)

… We’re going to do this now, and then we’re never going to do it again. Because we’re going to talk about something good that was in Resident Evil 6. One of the most infuriating things about RE6 is that it had some of the most incredible monster designs in the Resident Evil series. Great designs. The kind of monster designs that other games only wish they could achieve. And they were wasted on one of the worst games the series has produced. One of those designs was Haos, the apparent ultimate bio-weapon engineered by (ugh) Neo-Umbrella in a secret facility at the bottom of the ocean good lord I’m putting this on a list with William Hope Hodgson.

Haos deserves a better game; its design is unnecessarily fantastic. It looks like a ningen crossed with a jellyfish. It’s some far future stage of human evolution driven to its most extreme and bizarre form. There’s something forlorn and sad about it, but also beautiful and powerful. Its concept is purely apocalyptic; Haos will rise from the bottom of the ocean before it finally dies and dissolves into a gas that will spread across the world, turning humanity into zombies and monsters. Herald of a world of gods and monsters and all that. Even its name is kind of cool; ‘Haos’ is literally Siberian for ‘chaos’. And every day I have to wake up with the knowledge that this wonderful, horrible monster was stuck at the end of a Resident Evil 6 campaign. It’s depressing. So here’s to good old Haos; at least here you’ll get some respect.

#30 Day Monster Challenge 2 #30 Day Monster Challenge #Great Old Ones #Warhammer #Nurgle #Dungeons and Dragons #Lolth #Hellboy #Undertale #long post

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whatarubberchicken · 6 years

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AU YEAH August - 23 - Historical

@auyeahaugust

Khepri: Egyptian Scarab God - Ladybug

Maahes: Egyptian Lion God – Chat Noir

Miraculous: Tales of Khepri and Maahes

A gentle wind blew through the courtyard of the Palace, making the lanterns flicker against the walls of alabaster stone. A young man looked out over the Nile, taking a deep breath before turning to the tiny goddess beside him.

“I hope I’m wrong, Tikki,” he said heavily. “And I wish I could do this as myself, but….”

“I know you don’t like to change into a girl as Khepri,” the little goddess chirped. “But it’s for your own protection. Everyone is looking for a female of the royal blood who has taken the title of Sacred Scarab. You are overlooked and unnoticed.”

“Whereas Maahes is free to come and go whenever he pleases,” the young man sighed with envy as he thought of his feline superhero partner. “Ah, the freedom of not being part of the royal family. Even if it’s only a distant cousin.”

“Your information and insight are critical to our missions,” Tikki said firmly, kissing him on the nose. “Especially this one. Now, are you ready? You promised everyone you’d meet at sunset.”

“Right, right. Tikki, transform me!”

The young man felt the power wash over him and once again sighed as he looked down at his now-decidedly-female body covered in spotted linen. Fortunately, Khepri’s kalasiris (sheath dress) allowed for much more movement than he’d thought possible, and he effortlessly jumped from building to building as he made his way to the meeting place.

Being a female as the superhero (goddess) Khepri wasn’t so bad, really. The change was useful in keeping his identity secret, but he might’ve been able to enjoy it more if—

“There’s my beautiful lady bug!”

--he hadn’t accidentally told Maahes about the change. Now, the cat-themed superhero had taken it upon himself to tease Khepri about it whenever he could.

“Shut up, you drunk old cat!” he—she—spat, tossing her yoyo at him. The catboy easily moved his head to the side to dodge it, fully-aware that she wouldn’t actually hurt him. “Were you followed?”

“Was I—was I followed?” Maahes asked in mock-outrage. “I? The Great Hunter? The Protector of Ra? The—”

“Careful, Eater of Captives,” Khepri warned him lightly, landing beside him and playfully flicking his nose. “You collect many more titles, you won’t be able to keep track of them all.”

“For the last time, I didn’t eat him!” Maahes exclaimed. “I used my power at the last minute and it just looked like I did!!”

“Whatever,” Khepri said, dismissing the subject. “We have more important things to worry about right now. Like whatever the Pharaoh is planning over at the palace that has all the soothsayers in a tizzy.”

“You think Apep is behind it?” Maahes asked lowly, referring to the supernatural villain they’d been after for years.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Khepri admitted with a grimace. “Somehow, he’s gained influence with the Pharaoh himself. And we can’t just ignore it this time. We’ll have to do something. Something drastic.” She was about to say more, but she heard a rustle in the shadows that indicated the other person they were supposed to meet with tonight had arrived.

“You realize what you’re talking about, right? Assassinating the pharaoh?” Maahes growled, making a sign against evil. “A living god? And one with no sons to boot! His lineage will be ended forever! You’ll destroy Egypt! There’ll be a civil war! At least!”

“Believe me, I know.”

“So, you got a plan for getting past this? Tell me you have a plan. I know you’ve got a plan.”

Khepri heard a soft sob from the corner where her informant was still waiting to be called forward, and she grit her teeth as she pushed forward with the conversation. It was better if this came from the mouths of “gods” anyway.

“Tut has been a puppet king most of his reign. Why not simply put the puppeteer in power?”

“Oh, sweet Hathor preserve us,” Maahes exclaimed, running his claws through his hair. “That’s your plan?!”

“You got a better one?” Khepri asked, her eye starting to twitch.

“Take control!” Maahes exclaimed. Khepri sighed in exasperation. “You said it yourself, you have some royal blood—”

“No.”

“—and we already know we’ve been chosen by the gods for the good of the kingdom,” the cat superhero added, indicating his suit.

“And I’ve already told you, I have no interest in ruling,” Khepri reminded him. “I don’t even want a shrine as Khepri. I just want to do my job.”

“And if your job includes ruling Egypt?”

“I already have someone in mind.”

Maahes looked taken aback. “Who?? Who could possibly be better than us?”

“Someone who is already officially in power. Your majesty, will you join us?” Khepri gestured to the shadows behind her. “Maahes, may I introduce, by the grace of Ra, Pharaoh’s Great Royal Wife, Ankhesenamun.”

The young woman stepped into the light just long enough for them to see her, and then lost her nerve to be standing before actual living Gods. She fell to her face before them.

“Have mercy, Eyes of Ra!” she cried. Maahes chuckled a bit as Khepri quickly attempted to coax the young queen back to her feet.

“Peace, my queen,” the scarab-themed heroine said soothingly. “We’ll not hurt you. We simply wish to ask you some questions about your beloved husband.”

“Beloved?” Ankhesenamun choked out. Tears streamed down her face. “Yes, he called me beloved once. I was his and he was mine. Together for eternity, we said. But now… I am unable to give him any heirs. Now he thinks I am weak. Cursed. Now, I am replaced by my own mother! One whom the Sun God has already claimed. Has always claimed! Nefertiti is dead, and still I feel her presence all around. He calls her his sweet, long-lost princess! Says he wants to bring her back from the Land of the Dead! MAY RA FORGIVE HIM THIS BLASPHEMY!!” The young queen broke down, crying, not seeing the uneasy look the two superheroes shared.

“Did he, um… say how he was going to bring her back?” Maahes asked slowly, wetting his lips.

“No, Lord of Slaughter,” Ankhesenamun sniffled.

Maahes groaned and Khepri smothered her laughter at the cat god’s least-favorite title.

“Actually,” Maahes said slyly, stepping forward and wrapping an arm around Khepri’s now-feminine shoulders, “I prefer the title ‘He Who Is True Beside Her.’” He waggled his eyebrows at Khepri and received an elbow in his gut for his trouble.

“Please ignore the son of Sekhmet,” she said irritably. “He’s obviously been drinking. Any information you can give us about the Pharaoh’s plan would be helpful, your Highness.”

Ankhesenamun swallowed. “He said… something about sacrifice,” she said slowly.

“Does this have anything to do with the mysterious disappearances lately?” Maahes asked, suddenly all business.

“Disappearances?” Khepri asked, whirling to look at her partner in surprise. “I thought those were just rumors!”

“I’ve been doing some sniffing around downtown, milady,” the cat said with a saucy wink. “Turns out, they’re all true, more or less.”

“How many?” she demanded.

“About 90 people?” he shrugged. “All within the past three months.”

Khepri cursed. If Tutankhamun had gotten ahold of the Scroll of Spells like she thought he had… well, he was dangerously close to something unforgivable.

“My queen,” she said quickly. “It pains me to ask this of you, but can we, the protectors of the gods, count on your help?”

Anhkesenamun hesitated. “Do you have to kill him?” she asked in a tiny voice.

“I will try not to,” Khepri assured her, smiling sadly at the young woman, so obviously still in love with her husband. “But, if worse comes to worse… I must think of Egypt first.”

………….

The next day….

…………

Khepri swore as she raced across the courtyard, her yoyo already in hand. Already, there was a gaping hole in the sky and a group of mummies were carrying the queen high above their heads, even as she sobbed and begged Tutankhamun to stop.

She felt her gut churn. His own wife. He was willing to sacrifice his own wife because he wanted someone more powerful, more beautiful. But it had to be her. Even after all the pain she’d been through, she loved him more than anything.

And only one with a pure heart could love so deeply.

Even now, Ankhesenamun didn’t fight as the reanimated mummies placed her on a beam of light, all of them chanting.

“My lady!!” she heard Maahes cry across the courtyard. He was trying to take out as many mummies as possible, hoping to disrupt the spell. But, a spell like this… they needed to take out the source.

“You cannot stop me, you vile insect!!” the Pharaoh shouted, turning to face her. Idly, she noticed that Apep’s power had given him muscles and reflexes that the true Tutankhamen had never had in his short life. He blocked her kick easily, and she barely dodged his swing, springing backwards to get out of his range. Tut started laughing, mad with power. Khepri narrowed her eyes and began twirling her yoyo behind her.

She had promised the queen she would try, but if it was a decision between saving Tut or saving Egypt….

“You are nothing but a pathetic. Little. Lady-bug,” Pharaoh spat.

Instead of becoming angry and arguing back, Khepri just smiled at him and nodded.

“As you say, Pharaoh.”

She brought her spinning yoyo down hard on his thigh, not bothering to see how much damage she did as she sprang for his scepter. He bellowed in pain and then in anger when he realized he’d been tricked. Praying for a new, purifying spell, Khepri activated the scepter again, this time with her own true magic.

“Sacred Scarab!”

The void to the abyss and the beam of light disappeared. Tutankhamen’s sacrifice fell from the sky. Maahes displayed his cat-like reflexes when he jumped and caught Queen Ankhesenamun. As one, the one-hundred mummies surrounding them collapsed as the scepter in Khepri’s hands was purified.

“My love!” the queen cried, racing over to Tutankhamen. He turned away from her, still sitting on the ground and clutching his leg.

“Don’t look at me,” he muttered sullenly, as he turned back into teenage king that was his true form. “I hurt you. I listened to Apep’s empty promises and betrayed you.”

“That was not your fault!” Ankhesenamun insisted. She looked at Khepri desperately. “Tell him, goddess!”

“You are neither the first, nor the last man to fall victim to the forces of evil,” Khepri agreed, regarding the Pharaoh solemnly. He seemed to be in a lot of pain from the injury she’d given him earlier. “Do you wish me to heal your leg?”

“No, Goddess Khepri,” Tutankhamun ground out, trying to stand. His wife rushed to his side to help him and he leaned on her, gasping. “This is the symbol of my great sin. All those people… my beloved….” He looked at his wife mournfully. “I will bear this pain. Even in the afterlife. It will weight on my soul forever.”

“There is no need for that,” Ankhesenamun protested. Tutankhamun shook his head at her and turned back to Khepri, even as Maahes also made his way over to them.

“Please, goddess, if it is the will of Ra, keep no record of this horrific incident,” Pharaoh pleaded. Khepri bowed her head.

“I cannot do that,” she said regretfully. “But, if it is any consolation, the record I must make will be buried deep in the record halls of the gods. Along with this,” she said, indicating the scepter of power she had stolen from him.

Tutankhamen nodded, resigned. “If you must, please make it look like a legend, instead of something I actually did….”

Khepri smiled. “I’ll do my best, my Pharaoh.”

……

Less than a week later, the Pharaoh Tutankhamen was dead, having never recovered from his injury.

Khepri took caution as she strode into the palace, where the queen still grieved.

“You did this,” Ankhesenamun sobbed. “It’s your fault. You promised not to kill him!!”

“I promised to try,” Khepri said, stoically keeping any emotion from her voice.

“It’s still your fault!”

“It is,” the superheroine agreed.

“I should set the guards on you! Have them hunt you throughout the kingdom!”

Khepri didn’t bother to reply, and just leveled the queen with a dry stare. She was technically a goddess. The guards would throw their weapons down and abandon their queen before daring to lay a finger on her. Ankhesenamun gasped in a deep breath, trying to steady her sobs.

“But I won’t,” she said, her voice still shaking a bit. “Because it will do no good. Not against you.”

“Have you sent for your grandfather?” Khepri asked, hoping to get to the reason she’d even bothered to come here today.

“I sent for him days ago; just after the… ceremony.”

“Very good.” Khepri turned to go.

“I will erase you from history,” Ankhesenamun called after her. “You will get no shrines. No monuments. In the parts of history I allow to remain, you will be a minor god, lost in the glory of Ra!”

Ah, the irony. Khepri carefully hid her smile.

“As you say, my queen.”

….

Maahes was waiting for her on a rooftop nearby. “Have I told you how brilliant you are today, milady?” he asked, falling into step beside her.

“Considering I’ve spent the past few days holed up, recording what happened before the pharaoh’s successors try to rewrite history, probably not,” Khepri said, allowing herself to smile at her partner as they headed away from the palace.

He smirked back at her. “And considering you just got the most powerful woman in the country to give you exactly what you’ve always wanted, what do you want to do now?”

“We should probably lay low for a while,” Khepri said, thinking. “The Pharaoh’s successor will want to keep the queen happy to earn her support, and that may mean promising things….”

“Like your head on a plate?”

“Mmm, exactly.”

Maahes grin turned into a leer. “You can always come live with me, milady—”

“How many times do I have to tell you, Maahes? I’m a man! I’m actually a man!”

“And you’ll find I’m as flexible as a cat,” her partner said, waggling his eyebrows at her.

Khepri facepalmed. “I certainly hope Tikki’s future charges don’t have to put up with anyone like you. Or your awful puns.”

“Sorry, milady,” Maahes said, cheerfully throwing his arm around her as they headed off into the sunset. “You’re doomed. Doomed for all eternity….”

Khepri elbowed him in the gut and threw her yoyo to the nearest building.

“Only if you can keep up, cat!” she sang, flying away.

He laughed as he chased her. “Bring it on, milady!”

......

End.

#au yeah august #historical #ancient egypt #khepri #maahes #ladybug #chat noir #i had way too much fun researching this

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ac-liveblogs · 6 years

Text

Personalog 3: Kaneshiro and Futaba’s Palaces

Why Kaneshiro AND Futaba, you ask? Because I forgot to do Kaneshiro and then Futaba took like three days (and i spent august grinding out supports while futaba was apparently in a coma for almost three weeks, no cause for alam here dad, this is totally normal, futaba does this ALL the TIME)

kaneshiro’s palace was a piece of shit and i hated it

I was and still am indifferent to Makoto’s personality... but godDAMN she is badass in battle, i love queen so much

if i date her, sae is going to murder me in prison i can tell

Don’t get me wrong, Cherami Leigh is a great actress, but I can’t decide if she was miscast here or not and its rly messing with me

yes mishima you definitely have a date with a real life actual woman i promise

i’ll stop being a jackass to him when it stops being funny

lala escargot social link when

Can: Tell your party members to wear maid outfits or swimsuits into palaces. Cannot: give them ability cards

futaba’s palace was cheap tomb raider and hilariously easy except for sphinxmom (not to be confused with catmom)

Okay, I could understand Futaba blackmailing the Thieves by threatening to release their identities to the public if they didn’t steal her heart, but was she SERIOUSLY going to let the entire Japanese economy crash???

tbh i thought she was going to be medjed too and that’s why she was cool threatening them with that and i guess i was half right

After the pyramid Palace, the Egyptian themes being waved around and Futaba’s Shadow being a literal Pharoah, I don’t know why I didn’t expect her Persona to be a flying saucer, it’s just such a logical jump to make

abduct the small child with tentacles

how else do you get a small child into a flying saucer

FUTABA IS IN A COMA BUT DON’T WORRY IT’S FINE

why can i even give her armour she doesn’t fucking fight

i had 110,320 yen. i tried to do the fortune teller confidant. i have 10,320 yen. i am a little salty

it is fucking outrageous that this game won't let me date akechi. because he is blatantly flirting with me, and this is completely unfair.

“is akechi onto me or into me” “both”

“is akechi consulting a wikihow article on how to make friends” “yes”

“is it a very good wikihow article” “no”

“let your intended friend know what kind of person you are with a short story from your past!”

Akechi: haha did i ever tell you i’m completely unloved and have no friends or family

my rank 10 with sae nijima will end with my untimely demise, after she has murdered me for banging her sister

#ac plays persona 5

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hauntedtacotreetrash · 3 years

Photo

Morning devotion It's a Youth Sabbath Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John.2:15

Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Ps.97:10

NZK.083 - Ewe Skuli Ya Sabato "Sweet Sabbath School"

1 Ewe skuli ya Sabato, U pazuri sana; Moyo wangu wanivuta, Nije kwako leo.

Chorus Sabato . . . ni nzuri . . . Sabato . . . ni nzuri . . . Moyo wangu wanivuta, Nije kwako leo.

2 Moyo wangu mpotovu, Hapa una raha; Ndipo nimwonapo Yesu, Nije kwako leo.

3 Hapa Yesu mwenye pendo Aniita pole: Nimtolee moyo Yeye, Nije kwako leo.

083

Missions readings

God taught them on the importance of Sabbath by providing Manna for them. The Sabbath day was a day of wonder

19Thus said the LORD to me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in, and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;20And say to them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter by these gates:21Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;22Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.23But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.24And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken to me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;25Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.26And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt-offerings, and sacrifices, and meat-offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, to the house of the LORD.27But if ye will not hearken to me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. Jet.17:19-29

Matthew Chapter 12 1At that time Jesus went on the sabbath through the corn, and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath.3But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him;4How he entered into the house of God, and ate the show-bread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them who were with him, but only for the priests?5Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?6But I say to you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.9And when he had departed thence, he went into their synagogue.10And behold, there was a man who had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him.11And he said to them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it shall fall into a pit on the sabbath, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?12How much then is a man better than a sheep? wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Mat.12:1-12

Divine. Time

Keytext.Ps.119:36-37

594 - I am Thine,O Lord

1 I am thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, And it told Thy love to me; But I long to rise in the arms of faith And be closer drawn to Thee.

CHORUS: Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, To the cross where Thou hast died. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, By the power of grace divine; Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, And my will be lost in Thine.

3 O the pure delight of a single hour That before Thy throne I spend, When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend!

NZK.144 - Ni Wako Bwana "I Am Thine O Lord"

1 Ni wako, Bwana, ninasikia Unaponena nami; Lakini, kweli, nataka kwako Nizidi kusongea:

Chorus Bwana vuta, (vuta) nije nisongee Sana kwako mtini. Bwana, vuta, vuta, nije nisongee Pa damu ya thamani.

2 Niweke sasa nikatumike Kwa nguvu za neema; Uyapendayo nami nipende Nizidi kukwandama.

3 Nina furaha tele kila saa Nizungumzapo nawe; Ninanena kama kwa rafiki Nikipiga magoti.

144

NZK=144

Giving.

I have shown you all things, that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts.20:35

Theme. Youths Called To Be Labourers.

36Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.37Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity; and revive thou me in thy way. Keytext. Ps.119:36-37 Roles and responsibilities of young people

1. Young people are soul winners

Genesis Chapter 39 1And Joseph was brought down to Egypt: and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down thither.2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man: and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.3And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.4And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.5And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake: and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house, and in the field.6And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not aught he had, save the bread which he ate; and Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored.7And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph: and she said, Lie with me.8But he refused, and said to his master's wife, Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand:9There is none greater in his house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?10And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.11And it came to pass, about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.12And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and went out.13And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had fled forth,14That she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us: he came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:15And it came to pass, when he heard that I raised my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and went out.16And she laid up his garment by her until his lord came home.17And she spoke to him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought to us, came in to me to mock me.18And it came to pass, as I raised my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled.19And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.20And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.21But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.22And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatever they did there, was done by him.23The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him: and that which he did the LORD made it to prosper. Gen.39

24By faith Moses, when he had come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect to the recompense of the reward Heb.11:24-26

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers.13:30

Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 1 Sam.16:10

Time waits for no mam

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. Acts.7:58

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yugioh-thoughts · 7 years

Note

I want to know what are characters's soul rooms look like. Original we only get to see Anzu and Yugis's. Your idea?

I had to think about this a little but here’s what I came up for some of them (surprisingly angsty, I must say):

- Atem’s soul room after he regains his memories looks like the inside of an Egyptian palace. I think it would be very clean and organized, as after all that happened he’d like to avoid losing or misplacing things in his mind. There would be things tied to his past, like Egyptian games he used to play, but also more modern things, like a duel disk. He would have so many pictures in there - of Yugi, of his friends both in modern and in past times, of his family, we know he how much he treasures everyone he loves so I can imagine his room would be full of images of all the people he doesn’t want to ever forget about

- Seto’s room would be very modern in look. A mix between an office and a minimalist apartment. It would look very tidy, of course, with very few things around (a picture of Mokuba, a Blue Eyes model). There would be a desk that is always covered in papers about whatever the latest idea Seto is concentrated on is. But open a drawer or a cabinet, and you’ll find a real mess within, torn pictures and a broken collar and chess pieces all scattered around, all the things he tried to suppress and forget through the years but he only ends up hiding out of sight

- Jounouchi’s room would look like a real mess the moment you step in. Everything is thrown around, on the ground, in piles that risk falling down from one moment to the other. Duel Monster cards are all over the place, and you could barely step inside without risking walking over some. There’s a lot of things that are Duel Monster themed, but you could find Shizuka’s favorite doll, the one she would always play with as a kid and have Jounouchi join her, or a replica of that one Puzzle piece he stole from Yugi all those years before. No photos for him, just mementos of all his friends. In a corner there’s a box that’s got a knife and some old clothes from when he was in the gang. It’s dusty and closed with tape, and one would easily miss it if they didn’t know it was there

- Mai’s soul room has a certain elegance. There’s comfortable armchairs and tasteful decorations, it almost looks as if she was expecting guests, and there’s always a sweet aroma in it. If one were to look closely, they would see there are small cracks in the wood of the coffee table, that the wall behind the shelf housing the awards she won at various tournaments is ruined and stained. But you’d have to look very closely. Mostly, you’d find her decks, Harpy Ladies dolls, and make up and many fine things

- Ryou’s room would not have that much Duel Monster merch. Maybe a few of his favorite cards, but that’s it. There would be books upon books, especially his favorite novels, most of which horror stories. There’s a picture of his mother and sister, and then there are his favorite tabletop games. A huge, bright colored carpet on hides underneath the ugly stains on the ground in the shape of the Ring, made with some dark substance that looks a lot like dried blood. There’s a bed there - very comfortable for reading, but also good for hiding under the blankets when something ugly and evil is inside your head

- Yami Bakura’s room is the opposite of nice. It’s dark, and humid, an Egyptian tomb, the walls covered in blood stains and hieroglyphs that read of curses and blasphemies. He doesn’t have much other than his anger and his hate for the Pharaoh, and the room shows it, laid almost bare past wicked looking knives and a few riches he stole in times long past. A side of the room is dark, and something moves there, with growls and groans like a caged beast. Even with all his hate, Bakura’s room used to be better, once, with gold that decorated the walls, but the millennia locked in the Ring with Zorc have twisted and fouled the little good there was

#ask #the-one-random-internet-kid #yugioh dm #atem #seto kaiba #jounouchi katsuya #mai kujaku #ryou bakura #yami bakura

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mangowright · 6 years

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hope for the hopeless (upstairs downstairs fic) [agnes/blanche]

series : upstairs downstairs ( 2011 ) pairing: Agnes Holland/Blanche Mottershead summary: Blanche Mottershead knows many things. Beyond the realms of undiscovered artefacts and the dust and the rocks they’re buried in. So, it is only proper, she knows that she could only be Agnes’ rock as the other had been for her on her own trying times. Because she remembers looking like that.

AO3

There’s an unmistakable sadness in Agnes’ eyes that Blanche picked up on recently. She notices and pays enough attention to gauge Agnes’ mood whenever she walks into the room. She knows when the other would sit on the study and read, and when it would be a great time to hand her a glass of whiskey, no matter what time of the day it is. Blanche can never blame Agnes for the sadness that lurks beneath her façade. Her sister committed suicide and her marriage was ruined, beyond repair, only a legal document now

However, Blanche will blame herself if she lets Agnes venture deeper into destruction in these dark times. So she distracts her from it--she had stayed for Agnes to make sure she takes care of herself after all—often dragging Agnes to the museum and simply talking. About the Egyptians. Making Agnes remember the happy times of her life. Occasionally telling her how wonderful she is—Blanche sees the sadness passing away, even for few short moments, for it haunts Agnes in between walks from an exhibit to another.

The urge to get rid of it is overwhelming to Blanche. It stains Agnes beautiful face, creates unnecessary wrinkles and creases on her forehead and Blanche finds it distasteful and feels slight scornful towards Hallam for he had caused all this (at least a part of it). Now he’s hiding away in Buckingham Palace. Men, Blanche sighs. They think women are some sort of comfort, to serve them, to be their companion-but Blanche always thought otherwise.

There’s always been that endearing quality about women that men can never break as long as they go on with their faux masculinity and petty prejudices. They think women dress for them—the men. Blanche often found herself rolling her eyes at that. Such thought was incredibly preposterous, at least for her, which is why they’re a tad tight-lipped around her. Afraid of her knowledge, of her peculiar candor, that Maud finds quite disagreeable yet also agreeable. Blanche thinks a lot would benefit if the world would choose to zip its mouth if its only purpose is to spat prejudices towards their own.

Blanche Mottershead knows many things. Beyond the realms of undiscovered artefacts and the dust and the rocks they’re buried in. So, it is only proper, she knows that she could only be Agnes’ rock as the other had been for her on her own trying times. Because she remembers looking like that.

Forlorn. Towards a long-lost and a beloved. It’s often what happens to the left besotted. The one who’d thought better to care and not to hate. She’d seen Agnes façade crumble, perhaps, she had imagined Agnes saw Persie’s body lying down the hall. Blanche remembers helping her up, taking her to her room and cradling her sobs and cries of how life is unfair.

One morning, Agnes drags herself into the study, smelling of alcohol, and stumbles on the way in and Blanche was thankful she was alert enough to help her. When Agnes was settled, she goes back to her work. Observing the other occupant of the room, in this case. Hangover. She apparently drank herself to oblivion, much to Blanche’s dismay. So the archaeologist gets up, sets down an aspirin and a cup of water for her friend.

Blanche returns to her seat and pays limited attention to the book she was reading, glasses perched on her nose, often wrinkling when coming across something interesting. Her mind thinks otherwise and digresses when a phrase about blaming comes up. She opts it best to not look for someone to blame now but whenever she closes her eyes and thinks of whom caused such distress within Agnes, her unfortunate nephew’s face pops into her head and it’s absolutely unbearable.

Blanche is glad that she accepts it. It doesn’t take long before life is back on Agnes’ face. She smiles a ‘thank you’ to Blanche, which she reciprocates. Agnes deserves so much and she does not realize one bit of it.

“I wouldn’t really know that, Blanche.” It’s only when Agnes responds she realizes she said those words out loud.

There’s no shame in it, Blanche tells herself, but she really wanted that thought to herself alone.

Blanche shuts her book and looks at Agnes, who sat on the other couch, idle and still out of her depths. “I’ll make sure to inform you of it every waking day.” A response which makes the other smile a little bit more. (Blanche loved seeing Agnes smile, it shines a light on days she feels rather knocked out from seeing piles of letters from people wanting to enter England and think that those piles may be the same volume as the dead bodies lying around in this kind of war.)

She intends to make a point of this and walks to where Agnes is saddled, leaning down before her and taking her hand in hers.

“You deserve to be happy, to be able to live despite what has transpired. You deserve to be happy solely because you’re Lady Agnes Holland, perhaps the most wonderful, amazing and particularly beautiful woman I ever had the chance to associate myself with.”

Even Blanche herself is taken in surprise with the words that escaped her mouth—as much as Agnes was. Certainly, she could have worded it in a tame manner but slipping into extravagance seemed to be the theme of the day. Not saying that Agnes was anything less than what was said but, perhaps, she should’ve exerted a little bit more control.

But Agnes was polite, proper and perfect. She accepts the sincerity of Blanche and does not attempt to shove it away.

Agnes smiled. “You always had a way of lifting my spirits, Blanche, and I thank you for that.” And squeezes her hand. Blanche reciprocates the gesture, smiling and then letting go to go back to her business. If her peripheral vision wasn’t fooling her, she’d swear on her artefacts that Agnes’ smile dropped and her eyes turn lonely than it is sad, but Blanche ignores it—because there’s no road to cross beyond this line.

She’ll make do with this. The loving aunt. The caring friend. The reliable rock. As long as the day that Agnes becomes happy again arrives, Blanche will be happy and she’ll hide whatever feelings she may have in order not to lose this friendship and break the foundation and support they built for each other.

This is enough.

#own writing #upstairs downstairs #upstairs downstairs fic #blanche mottershead #agnes holland #agnes holland/blanche mottershead #agnes/blanche #agnes holland x blanche mottershead #fanfiction

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jackintheponeyofdiamonds · 7 years

Text

✧ Apprentice asks ✧

So I’ve found this a m a z i n g Arcana Apprentice Ask Meme created by @gooddoctorjules and ofc i had to fill it because i like to talk about my OCs and omg this questions were so GOOD! Answers under cut cause some of them were pretty long

1. What is their full name? What does it mean? Do they go by any nicknames/aliases?

His name is Morpheus Rhiannon. “Morpheus” is the Greek God of Dreams and “Rhiannon” is one of the Celtic Goddesses of the Moon (I have a thing for naming characters after mythological figures). When he was younger people used to call him “stormy” due to his spitfire personality and impulsive behavior. He didn’t change his ways, but he lost touch with the people who nicknamed him that. During some years he ran his exoteric shop under a pseudonym, “Felis” (named after the cat constellation). But nowadays everyone just call him Morpheus.

2. Do they have a familiar? What is it?

Morpheus has a small Egyptian Fruit Bat called Boo. She is tiny and scared of everything and everyone. Boo likes to hide in Morpheus scarf sometimes. Also, not a familiar but Morpheus has a lot of cactuses. All named George. All. Of. Them. Don’t question it.

3. What type/s of magic do they specialize in?

I’m not really sure how magic works in The Arcana. Besides from fortune-telling (he used to read runes before Asra taught him his tarot skills) and a very strong sixth sense, I believe Morpheus would be an Oneiromancer (a mage who interprets dreams) and have a few lightning-related attack spells.

4. Which of the major arcana best represents them?

I guess all the apprentices are meant to be The Fool card, at least in the beginning of the story, since it means, among other things, “Set forth on a new journey, one that is completely unknown and will take you to uncharted territories”, pretty fitting. But I think Morpheus can also be represented by a Reversed Moon card: It means he’s living in a moment of unhappiness and discomfort but he doesn’t know what he can do about it. Past experiences made him doubt himself, doubt if he is able to move forward. The Reversed Moon also means he is in a more intuitive phase than a reasoned one, though his intuition feels confusing which leads to possible misinterpretation.

Also, if I had to pick a future card for Morpheus, it’d be The Judgement: “With its theme of awakening to new life, the Judgement card suggests that you have reviewed and evaluated your past experiences and have learned from them. All the pieces of the puzzle of your life are finally coming together to form one, integrated picture of your life story. This integration has healed any deep wounds and you are now in a position to put the past behind you.”

And since I’m super into runes, I’d like to add that Morpheus runes are Perthro (Secrets, mystery, occult abilities. Determining your path in the future.) and Algiz (Awakening, connection with higher powers. Follow your intuition. A desire to protect yourself or others.)

5. What animal best represents them?

Either a raccoon or a peacock. Raccoon because he is small (kinda, he is 5’7/171cm), has dark circles under his eyes, looks cute but will fight you and peacock because he’s super flamboyant. As for his spirit animal, I think the one that fits him best is the bat (maybe that’s why he has a pet bat). The bat represents people that are aware and sensitive of their surroundings, that can have high psychic levels, have high chances of have prophetic dreams and are not easily fooled by illusions.

6. Describe their grimoire profile.

The spitfire apprentice who’s trying to find meaning to his life. ♐

✧Favorite food: Plum Pie ✧Favorite drink: Iced Tea

✧Favorite flower: Night-blooming jasmine

7. What is their Myers-Briggs type?

INTP – (Introversion, Intuition, Thinking, Perceiving)

8. What is their natural alignment (lawful/neutral/chaotic good/neutral/evil)?

Chaotic Neutral leaning towards Chaotic Good.

9. Which Hogwarts house would they be in?

Probably Slytherin. Morpheus personality is loosely based on mine, and I’m a slytherin, so…

10. Of the nine intelligences (logical-mathematical, existential, interpersonal, intrapersonal, kinesthetic, spatial, naturalist, musical, linguistic), which is their greatest strength? Their greatest weakness?

In order of the greatest strength to the weakness: Linguistic, Spatial, Existential, Musical, Naturalist, Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Logical-Mathematical, Intrapersonal.

Basically he is great at writing, loves books and sucks at understanding his own feelings.

11. What did they think of Asra leaving? Of his gift?

Morpheus relationship with Asra is… complicated, as the baker said. Morpheus likes Asra, he really enjoys his company. But every time he feels they are getting closer, Asra leaves. In the beginning, he didn’t mind the secrecy around Asra’s travels but as the time passed, it started to bother Morpheus. A lot. He doesn’t understand why his master doesn’t trust him after all this time. So when Asra said he was leaving again, Morpheus got really pissed. About the gift, well… It’s not like Morpheus wasn’t marveled by the tarot deck but his sixth sense tells him that cards are trouble. He didn’t really want to accept the deck, he doesn’t need it, he can very well use his runes for guidance. Plus, the fact that it’s the first time Asra leaves that bloody cards behind is suspicious.

12. What do they think of Nadia’s request that they go to the palace?

First of all, Morpheus doesn’t like Countess Nadia at all. He thinks she is tyrant who doesn’t care about her people. So when she shows up in the middle of the night demanding that he goes to the palace his first thoughts are “Who does she think she is? I mean she is the Countess and all but still??”. He was planning in ignoring her request, but after the card telling him she has a plan in motion he got curious about it and decided to give it a chance. When he actually went to the palace and heard what Nadia had in mind he was like “Nope. I don’t want to be a part of it. Nonononono NO”. However, even though Morpheus made it very clear he wouldn’t cooperate with the Countess, she didn’t really care, so… yeah. Let’s just say “curiosity killed the cat” is a very fitting proverb.

13. What do they think of the various animals they encounter at the palace?

MUST. PET. THEM. ALL. Yes, even the vampire eels. Seriously now, Morpheus really like animals, but knows how to respect them. He has plenty conscience that some creatures are only to be admired from a distance, which seems to be the case with most of the animals he encountered in the palace, unfortunately.

14. What is their day-to-day outfit? What do they wear when the dress up (such as for the masquerade)?

In his day-to-day Morpheus likes to wear comfortable clothes, usually tapered harem pants and a tunic or a gypsy shirt, with flats on his shoes. His clothes are mostly in shades of purple and black, with some sea-green accessory. In a fancier meeting, he’ll go more flamboyant. The pants would be less baggy, the shirt would be more open with the classic Arcana Tiddy Window™ and he’d probably wear a shawl around his waist. He would wear lace-up boots with a short heel. The color palette would be the same but more sparkly. In his head he’ll use a silver circlet, and some bracelets with fake coins. As for the masquerade, I picture him with a very open dark red shirt, which pretty much just covers his shoulders and arms, matching colors with an asymmetrical sarong skirt, over the shirt and skirt he wears a purple corset with some jades decorating it. Bellow the shirt he wears a light brownish flare pants. As for shoes, he wears bright red ankle strap high heels. And last, but not least, he wears a bright red choker on his neck, to match the shoes.

15. What is their favorite type of weather/environment?

Morpheus likes cold and rainy weather. He hates when it gets too hot, it makes him grumpy and even lazier than he usually is. Also the earthy smell after the rain reminds him of home.

16. Do they have any prized possessions?

Even though Morpheus is not the type to get attached to things, he has two very prized possessions. One is a small and rusty green dream-catcher with a single agate stone stuck in the middle. When Morpheus was younger he had terrible nightmares every night, he’d wake up screaming and crying and had a really hard time going back to sleep. So his mother made that dream-catcher to help him out. He never find out if it was actually enchanted at that time or it just helped ease Morpheus mind. The second thing is his set of runes. His older brother made it to him out of red wood once they started noticing Morpheus had a gift for fortune telling. Morpheus used those runes to read the fortune to some people in his home-town, earning a few extra coins for his family. Nowadays he uses another set, made of tourmaline stones, but every time he needs guidance to himself, he runs back to his old redwood runes. 17. Do they collect anything?

Yes, he collects cactuses, heartbreaks, and untrustworthy friendships.

18. What sort of first impression do they make?

Looks wise most people mistake him for a woman. Not that he minds, he’s fine with it. Morpheus has a very androgynous face, wears quite feminine clothes and a lot of make-up, so it’s easy to get confused. Now, about his personality, people often think he is cocky, they think Morpheus thinks he is better than anyone else. This is totally not the case. Morpheus is quite shy, so sometimes his answers may sound a bit cocky due to being short. I mean, he can be sassy sometimes and talk without thinking but he usually tries to be nice with strangers and costumers.

19. How do they deal with conflict?

He throws bottles at them. Morpheus is extremely impulsive, he acts before he thinks, and it applies to conflict as well. When it’s a physical conflict, he’ll attack even if the odds of him winning the fight are very unlikely. I mean, he did throw a bottle at Julian even though the doctor is like 17cm/3inches taller than him. In verbal conflict, he says everything that comes to his mind without paying much attention to what he’s actually saying, which may ended up being more harmful than he intended or, sometimes, he may accidentally let information slip. 20. What are their principal goals?

Morpheus believes that everyone comes to the world for a reason; everyone has one meaning in life. He just doesn’t know what his reason and meaning are. He wants to figure out what is his role in the world.

#the arcana game #fan apprentice #gooddoctorjules #hel writes stuff

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superior-in-every-way · 7 years

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What if deuce walks in on them? 😂😂😂 Talk about awkward!! 😍

OOC:

Uhm… Are you requesting a story? 🤔Deuce kind of already walked in on them in a previous story. Like I said, I don’t think Cleo or he would ever actually walk in on them, but I got an idea anyway! Enjoy! 🤗

{I’m on mobile, so I can’t put a read more. Also, I’m sorry if there are more mistakes than usually or if the story is trashy. I’m tired af. xD)

NSFW:

Not wanting anyone to get in trouble like LAST time, Dedyet broke the silence in the egyptian themed room. “Ramses,” she told him carefully, “Deuce is staying over at our house today.”

Ramses looked up from his papers, an angry look on his face. “Who gave him permission?”

Dedyet tried to be brave this one time and answered, “Me.”

Ramses raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

The former queen nodded, still somehow hoping that he wouldn’t get angry at her, Cleo or Deuce.

“You know,” Ramses informed her again, “I don’t want that boy to be here. Actually, I don’t want him to be with our daughter at all, no matter where.”

“I know, but if he is here with her, you can keep an eye on them,” Dedyet answered, smiling weakly.

“No! I can’t! Do you have an idea where this boy will sleep??!”

“Wherever he wants to?”

“You would be okay with him sleeping with Cleo? In HER bed?”

Dedyet considered this. “If her bed is big enough… Sure.”

Ramses rolled his eyes. Sure, he loved his wife more than anything, but in situations like those he wouldn’t mind her to be a stricter parent. So the former pharaoh replied, “Do you know what will happen if we let them sleep together?”

“They will bond?”

“She will be scarred forever!”

“Oh!” Dedyet nodded slowly. “You think his snakes would bite her? They seemed rather friendly to me.”

Ramses rolled his eyes another time. “Have you ever imagined what would happen if - Ra forbid - this boy got her pregnant?”

Dedyet smiled brightly. “Aww..”

Ramses raised an eyebrow, looking less than happy.

“They’d have a baby!”

“Imagining that makes me sick.”

Dedyet pouted. “Awwn.”

It was then when they heard someone enter the palace. After that, a happy voice - Cleo’s voice. “Deuce!”

Ramses immediately looked bitter.

“Honey,” Dedyet mumbled. “How about we spend the evening together? And give Cleo and Deuce some free time?”

Surprisingly, Ramses’ face presented her a tiny smile. “Do you know what I’d rather do?” He asked, almost happily.

She smiled back at him. “No?”

“THROW THAT BOY RIGHT OUT!”

Dedyet pouted another time. However, she still tried to change his opinion. “How about we take a bubble bath? Just us two?”

“Hm. Fine. But I expect the servants to prepare it perfectly!”

Twenty minutes later, Dedyet found herself standing next to her husband in his private bathroom. In front of them was a perfectly prepared bubble bath, tealights were lit, the smell of roses filled the room. It was so romantic that Dedyet almost melted. Her heart did, at least.

“Get the champagne,” Ramses told the last servant in the bathroom in a very stern way.

He nodded, bowed and left.

Ramses looked at his wife, presenting her a smile. “Let’s get naked.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle. Dedyet slowly undressed - careful about leaving a few bandages on her upper arms - and watched her husband do the same.

They got inside the warm bath, sitting opposite of each other. Dedyet felt magnificient, feeling the warmth of the water all around her, and the servant was quick yet careful to get inside the room again.

He gave them both a glass of champagne, having the costly bottle still in his hand.

Ramses and Dedyet smiled at each other, clinged their glasses and started drinking, both in very different ways. Dedyet drank very slowly, tasting the liquid carefully, enjoying and appreciating the taste, while Ramses’ glass was empty within a second.

Dedyet’s eyes widened as she watched her husband getting his glass refilled. Well, he had always loved alcohol. The more, the better…

About an hour of luxurious bathing had passed when the servant bowed and left. What he brought outside with him were two completely empty bottles of champagne. (Dedyet had had two glasses and Ramses… Well, the complete rest).

As soon as he was gone, Ramses was drunk enough to lean forward and kiss Dedyet passionately. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, too, while touching the warm skin on his back with one of her hands.

“Let’s get out of here,” Ramses slurred out, obviously far from sober. “I wanna have sex with you.”

Dedyet blushed and chuckled nervously. “Oh, okay…”

Ramses stood up and got out (the fact that he didn’t fall was a miracle), followed by Dedyet, who managed to dry most of Ramses’ and her body with two towels.

As they heard voices in the halls, the two got dressed in two fancy bathrobes, just to be sure that no one would see them naked.

They walked into their bedroom - luckily without being seen by anyone. As soon as Dedyet closed the door behind them, Ramses let his bathrobe fall to the ground. She turned around only to feel his hands greedily remove hers, too.

They continued kissing and ended up on the huge bed, Ramses lying down, Dedyet sitting on top of him. She barely felt ready when he grabbed her hips and raised them up so that she was sitting on his boner.

Dedyet suddenly felt a sharp pain inside of her. “Ouch…”

Her rather drunk husband noticed this, doing very little to make her feel better. He placed his hands on her butt and slowly lifted her up and down.

Dedyet felt herself getting a little wetter, but the pain was still there. However, she didn’t want to stop, so she quickly moved her hips up and down until she felt aroused by it as well. It was a minute later when, while she had slowly started to enjoy it, the fun was over and Ramses cum.

Dedyet lifted her hips up and grabbed a tissue to wipe her genitals with. Once relatively clean, she lied down in Ramses’ arms. She looked over at him, wondering if he was still in the mood to keep it going, when she heard him snore.

The former queen cuddled closer to her sleeping husband, looking over at their bathrobes on the floor and the dirty tissue next to her. A huge feeling of tiredness overcame her, when she suddenly felt a lot of pressure on her bladder.

Trying to forget about how disappointing the sex had been and how she had been in pain during most of the act, Dedyet slowly stood up, managing not to wake up her husband. Actually, it was no wonder. Ramses was a heavy sleeper and once he was asleep, waking him up was an actual challenge.

Dedyet grabbed up her bathrobe from the ground, remembering again how Ramses had once warned her about not walking around naked in the house, put it on rather carelessly (she didn’t even bother to close it appropriately) and left the room to walk back into the bathroom.

The way to the bathroom was short, so it was rather surprising that Dedyet met Deuce in the halls who wore nothing but underwear and a t-shirt.

The gorgon boy blushed slightly, but his blush got deeper once Dedyet came nearer. Dedyet couldn’t see it, but behind the dark glasses, Deuce’s eyes were widening.

“Hello, Deuce,” Dedyet said with tired eyes and a friendly smile. Having no time for small talk, she kept on walking until she reached the bathroom and disappeared inside.

Deuce on the other hand, was still standing on the same spot he had seen her on. He looked after his girlfriend’s mother, his eyes still widening. The teenager tried to process what had just happened.

The first thing he realized was how much bigger Dedyet’s boobs were compared to Cleo’s. The second thing he realized was the fact that he had gotten a boner just from looking at her.

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arjay-the-brave · 7 years

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Akira, Medjed, Ann, Yusuke, Arsene, Ryuji, Makoto, Mishima, Futaba, Velvet Room :]

Doing this on mobile so yeah

AKIRA: If you had a Palace, what would it be?

>>If anything, it would have to be LI itself and my cognition of it would be that it’s a crowded 18th century stone penitentiary on a cold, deserted island being used as a prison colony, or a huge cage or something. Kind of like the Bastille if the Bastille took up a whole island. I legitimately hate it here a majority of the time; the winters are long and painful; you can’t get anywhere without a car; it’s ridiculously expensive to live here and only a few very wealthy neighborhoods justify the expense; nobody can fucking drive like they aren’t stupid or an asshole or both, especially not in the rain; and most everyone here seems so superficial or mean it hardly seems worth the effort to start a conversation. Though that last part might partially be my own issues projecting onto stuff idk. But I suppose that’s what makes it a Palace.

MEDJED: Favorite part in the game?

>>The boss battle against Cognitive Wakaba was cool as hell, dude. From the moment the boss destroys the top of the pyramid, to Akira saving Makoto, to Futaba summoning Necronomicon and turning the tide of the fight, to their mad dash to escape before the Palace collapses. Futaba’s Palace was rad. Second place goes to the return from Hawaii and Akira’s “Aloha” dialogue choice

ANN: Best girl?

>>Nijima Makoto, end of discussion. She is beauty, she is grace, she will break your fucking face. How can you not instantly fall for the girl whose awakening to her motorbike Persona included her breaking the floor with a stomp and essentially going full on super saiyan? I love everything about her from her design, outfits, personality, smarts, and the fact that she’s a low-key terrifying badass.

YUSUKE: Best boy?

>>Aww, man, I can’t choose just one.>>Sakamoto Ryuji. The boy loves his mama, he’s a true bro, and his Persona is a fucking pirate. Which is fitting because he swears like one, except he never says “fuck”. He deserves so much more than he gets. >>Kitagawa Yusuke is…there are no easy words, really. The way he experiences the world is so interesting and off beat and I love how he just says whatever he’s thinking with no hesitation. The katana adds +10 cool points.

ARSENE: Favorite awakening scene?

>>“I am thou, thou art I… Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice! Call upon my name, and release thy rage! Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself!”>>By far the best awakening of a Persona protagonist. Arsene’s evil laugh sealed it for me. They were all great, and Makoto’s is my second favorite but that factors more into why I like her so much rather than being its own favorite moment.

RYUJI: Favorite quote?

>>“I’ve been listening to you go on and on… Shut your mouth, you money-grubbing asshole!” - Nijima Makoto moments before awakening to her Persona.

MAKOTO: Most used party members?

>>Yusuke for his multi hit skill and accuracy, Makoto for her blend of support and offense and because best girl. Those two are always around. The last slot rotates between Ann (magic nuke), Morgana (healer), and Ryuji (murder EVERYTHING) .

MISHIMA: Favorite NPC social link?

>>Yoshida Toranosuke, known in the Western fanbase as Japanese Bernie Sanders. A disgraced politician trying to atone for the mistakes of his younger self and sticking to his message of progress and unity and hope, even when presented with opportunities to redeem himself at the cost of his ideals. Given the current political climate here and the government shenanigans in-game, this man and his story really spoke to me. Every politician should be Yoshida-san.

FUTABA: Favorite Palace?

>>Futaba’s pyramid was so good. The music is my favorite dungeon track in the game and I really liked the theming of it. Her Palace might as well have been a whole region compared to the single locations of other Palaces (barring Mementos). Though, given the Egyptian motif she had going on, I didn’t expect her Persona to be a UFO named after a Lovecraftian grimoire but hey, that’s still cool.

VELVET ROOM: Unpopular opinion?

>>I haven’t finished the game yet, and I don’t really have any opinions that might be considered unpopular. If anything, I don’t think Ann is as bland or “generic” as some of my friends and others think. I also ship her and Ryuji come fight me about it, nerds.

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